In ESS, the provision of food, temporary accommodation, clothing, etc., is based on activating the functions necessary to meet the immediate needs of evacuees based on the overall impact from the incident. In some situations, one or two responders can handle all of these functions, however, in some larger or complex disasters, 20 or 200 ESS responders may be required to provide these same services. In order to ensure that all of the necessary functions and services are carried out, the number of ESS responders can be decreased or increased. It is important to note that not every function will be filled in every emergency. The situation at hand will dictate the functions required.
The RC is organized around five major functions based on the incident command system (ICS): Management, Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance. The management function, led by the RC Manager, is responsible for the overall decision-making and smooth-functioning of the RC and includes the functions of Information, Liaison, and Safety. The Operations, Planning, Logistics, and Finance sections are responsible for overseeing the internal functioning of their individual Sections and interacting with RC management and others to ensure an effective ESS response. A diagram of this RC structure is provided in the figure below.
